The hike to the pools gets progressively more difficult the further you go on. "The first 1.1 miles is a relatively flat and an easy walk," according to Dofo Salazar on TheOutbound.com.

After crossing out of the park boundary and into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area, the trail transforms into a much rougher, "unmaintained wilderness trail," according to AZStateParks. "The next 1.7 miles is a steep and rocky climb to Romero Pools. Poor trail conditions might be encountered," they warn. The rugged trail climbs through craggy rock outcroppings as it heads deep into the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The hike to Romero Pools measures 2.8 miles one-way, and the downhill return is much easier. If you're looking for a true challenge, you can continue all the way to Romero Pass, which is 7.7 miles one-way from the trailhead. Be forewarned: there's no easier way to return than the trail you climbed up, so you must be prepared for a long day in the mountains.

Sources: https://azstateparks.com/catalina/things-to-do/trails https://www.theoutbound.com/arizona/hiking/hike-to-the-romero-pools https://www.gjhikes.com/2014/07/romero-pools.html